Abstract: An optical proximity sensor includes a housing, an optical emitter, and an optical detector. A first light guide disposed in a first chimney of the housing is configured to direct light from the optical emitter through the first chimney towards a target location. A second light guide disposed in a second chimney of the housing is configured to direct a returned portion of the light emitted from the optical emitter through the second chimney towards the optical detector.

Abstract: An optical sensor module includes a module housing defining a first compartment having a first aperture and a second compartment having a second aperture, with the second aperture spaced apart from the first aperture. A set of optical emitters is disposed in the first compartment and configured to emit light through the first aperture. A first set of optical detectors is disposed in the first compartment and configured to receive a first redirected portion of the emitted light through the first aperture. A set of optical elements is disposed in the first compartment and configured to direct at least a portion of the emitted light or the first redirected portion of the emitted light. A second set of optical detectors is disposed in the second compartment and configured to receive a second redirected portion of the emitted light through the second aperture.

Abstract: A wearable device includes a device housing configured to be worn on a first surface of a user, a set of one or more SMI sensors, and a processor. The set of one or more SMI sensors is mounted within the device housing and configured to emit a set of one or more beams of electromagnetic radiation, with each beam emitted in a different direction extending away from the first surface. The set of one or more SMI sensors is also configured to generate a set of one or more SMI signals containing information about a relationship between the device housing and a second surface. The processor is configured to extract the relationship between the device housing and the second surface from digitized samples of the set of one or more SMI signals.

Abstract: A device includes an electronic display, a cover through which the electronic display projects an image, and an array of SMI sensors. The array of SMI sensors is positioned on a same side of the cover as the electronic display. Each SMI sensor is configured to emit electromagnetic radiation toward a respective portion of: an interior surface of the cover, or a surface of a component of the device attached to the cover; and generate a respective SMI output including information indicative of vibration of the respective portion of the cover or the component. The device also includes circuitry configured to characterize a vibratory waveform impinging on the device. The vibratory waveform is characterized using at least two of the SMI outputs.

Abstract: A light emitter that operates through a display may cause display artifacts, even when the light emitter operates using non-visible wavelengths. Display artifacts caused by a light emitter that operates through a display may be referred to as emitter artifacts. To mitigate emitter artifacts, operating conditions for a display frame may be used to determine an optimal firing time for the light emitter during that display frame. The operating conditions used to determine the optimal firing time may include emitter operating conditions, display content statistics, display brightness, temperature, and refresh rate. Operating conditions from one or more previous frames may be stored in a frame buffer and may be used to help determine the optimal firing time for the light emitter during a display frame. Pixel values for the display may be modified to mitigate emitter artifacts.

Abstract: An optical sensing system can be integrated into a camera module. In particular, an optical element of an optical sensing system can be disposed entirely or partly within a barrel of a camera module. The optical element can be oriented toward a reflective surface, such as an infrared cut filter, such that an optical path is defined between free space and the optical element via at least one reflection off the reflective surface.

Abstract: An eye tracking device includes a head-mountable frame, an optical sensor subsystem mounted to the head-mountable frame, and a processor. The optical sensor subsystem includes a set of one or more SMI sensors. The processor is configured to operate the optical sensor subsystem to cause the set of one or more SMI sensors to emit a set of one or more beams of light toward an eye of a user; to receive a set of one or more SMI signals from the set of one or more SMI sensors; and to track a movement of the eye using the set of one or more SMI signals.

Abstract: A device includes an electronic display, a cover through which the electronic display projects an image, and an array of SMI sensors. The array of SMI sensors is positioned on a same side of the cover as the electronic display. Each SMI sensor is configured to emit electromagnetic radiation toward a respective portion of: an interior surface of the cover, or a surface of a component of the device attached to the cover; and generate a respective SMI output including information indicative of vibration of the respective portion of the cover or the component. The device also includes circuitry configured to characterize a vibratory waveform impinging on the device. The vibratory waveform is characterized using at least two of the SMI outputs.

Abstract: An electronic device includes an electromagnetic radiation source having an axis, a set of optics disposed about the axis, a reflector disposed about the axis non-symmetrically, and a controller configured to operate the electromagnetic radiation source while controlling a beam steering orientation (e.g., rotation) of the reflector. The reflector is disposed to reflect electromagnetic radiation emitted by the electromagnetic radiation source. The set of optics is disposed to shape electromagnetic radiation emitted by the electromagnetic radiation source and direct electromagnetic radiation received from the reflector into a panoramic field of view about the axis.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are electronic devices having touch input surfaces. A user's touch input or press on the touch input surface is detected using a set of lasers, such as vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs) that emit beams of light toward the touch input surface. The user's touch causes changes in the self-mixing interference within the VCSEL of the emitted light with reflected light, such as from the touch input surface. Deflection and movement (e.g., drag motion) of the user's touch is determined from detected changes in the VCSELs' operation due to the self-mixing interference.

Abstract: A watch body includes a housing at least partially defining an interior of the watch body. A retaining feature is formed in or extends from the housing. A watch crown is retained by the retaining feature and is operable to be rotated by a user. The watch crown has a surface facing the housing. The watch crown is entirely external to the interior of the watch body. An electromagnetic radiation source is disposed within the housing and is operable to emit a beam of electromagnetic radiation toward the surface. A sensor is disposed within the housing and is operable to characterize a movement of the watch crown based at least in part on a portion of the beam of electromagnetic radiation that impinges on the surface and is redirected by the surface.

Abstract: A optical communication system including a source device and an endpoint device. The source device include an array of laser diodes and is configured to drive the laser diodes to project a sequence of patterns into the field of view of the source device to define a set of serially-projected codes, each of which isolated to one respective angular division of the field of view of the source device. The endpoint device receives a serially-projected code from the source device which varies based which angular division of the field of view of the source device is occupied by the endpoint device.

Abstract: An electronic watch includes a housing, a user-operable watch crown mounted to the housing, an electromagnetic radiation source emitting a beam of electromagnetic radiation toward a watch crown surface, and a sensor. The beam of electromagnetic radiation depends on a coherent mixing of electromagnetic radiation within a resonant cavity of the electromagnetic radiation source. The coherent mixing includes a mixing of a first amount of electromagnetic radiation generated by the electromagnetic radiation source and a second amount of electromagnetic radiation redirected into the resonant cavity by the watch crown surface. The sensor measures a first parameter of the beam of electromagnetic radiation and determines, using the measurement of the first parameter, a value of a second parameter characterizing movement of the watch crown. The second parameter may include a direction of rotation or speed of rotation of the watch crown, or other parameters.

Abstract: A optical communication system including a source device and an endpoint device. The source device include an array of laser diodes and is configured to drive the laser diodes to project a sequence of patterns into the field of view of the source device to define a set of serially-projected codes, each of which isolated to one respective angular division of the field of view of the source device. The endpoint device receives a serially-projected code from the source device which varies based which angular division of the field of view of the source device is occupied by the endpoint device.

Abstract: An optical sensing system includes a transmitter side and a receiver side, and is configured to be positioned below a display of an electronic device. The transmitter side includes a light emitter. The receiver side includes an array of photodiodes. The light emitter of the transmitter side and the array of photodiodes of the receiver side are optically coupled via a waveguide. As a result of this construction, the optical sensing system can be operated as an interferometric optical sensor.

Abstract: An electronic device may include an infrared sensor with light sources and a quantum film photodetector. The light sources may emit short-wavelength infrared (SWIR) light through a display panel and the photodetector may receive the SWIR light through the panel after reflection off an object. The light sources and an integrated circuit may be mounted to a wall of a sensor module mounted to the panel. The module may include a lens. The photodetector may be disposed onto the rear wall, lens, integrated circuit, or display panel. The photodetector may include multiple types of quantum film to absorb different wavelengths of SWIR light. The SWIR light may pass through the display panel without distorting images emitted by the display panel. Using a quantum film in the photodetector may allow the photodetector to extend across a large surface area without unnecessarily increasing manufacturing cost for the device.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are electronic devices having touch input surfaces. A user's touch input or press on the touch input surface is detected using a set of lasers, such as vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs) that emit beams of light toward the touch input surface. The user's touch causes changes in the self-mixing interference within the VCSEL of the emitted light with reflected light, such as from the touch input surface. Deflection and movement (e.g., drag motion) of the user's touch is determined from detected changes in the VCSELs' operation due to the self-mixing interference.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a display stack includes a set of light-emitting elements, and a display backplane that includes a set of conductors and is electrically coupled to the set of light-emitting elements. A conductor in the set of conductors has a length, and a curved edge extending along at least a portion of the length. In some embodiments, a display stack includes a set of light-emitting elements; a set of transistors, electrically coupled to the set of light-emitting elements; and a set of conductors, electrically coupled to the set of transistors. The set of transistors may be electrically coupled to the set of conductors at a set of conductive pads. A plurality of conductive pads in the set of conductive pads is coupled to a single conductor in the set of conductors. The single conductor approaches different conductive pads in the plurality of conductive pads at different angles.

Abstract: A photovoltaic device and method include a substrate, a conductive layer formed on the substrate and an absorber layer formed on the conductive layer from a Cu—Zn—Sn containing chalcogenide material. An emitter layer is formed on the absorber layer and a buffer layer is formed on the emitter layer including an atomic layer deposition (ALD) layer. A transparent conductor layer is formed on the buffer layer.

Abstract: A wearable device includes a device housing configured to be worn on a first surface of a user, a set of one or more SMI sensors, and a processor. The set of one or more SMI sensors is mounted within the device housing and configured to emit a set of one or more beams of electromagnetic radiation, with each beam emitted in a different direction extending away from the first surface. The set of one or more SMI sensors is also configured to generate a set of one or more SMI signals containing information about a relationship between the device housing and a second surface. The processor is configured to extract the relationship between the device housing and the second surface from digitized samples of the set of one or more SMI signals.